India says committed to combating organised crime after US indictment in Canada murder case

NEW DELHI, July 14 - India said on Tuesday that it is committed to working with its partners to combat transnational organised crime, a week after the U.S. charged the imprisoned head of an Indian criminal gang with directing the 2023 murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.

• Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Canada's Surrey, and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged Indian involvement in his killing, badly damaging ties between the countries.

• India had termed the accusations "absurd".

• The U.S. last week charged Indian criminal gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi and his North American deputy with directing the murder.

• India and the U.S. enjoy "strong and effective growing cooperation" on transnational organised crime, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, when asked about the U.S. indictment.

• India remains committed to working with its partners in combating transnational organised crime through close law enforcement and security cooperation, he told a regular media briefing on Tuesday.

• Asked about the possibility of Bishnoi's extradition, Jaiswal said New Delhi would deal with any such request according to "established legal obligations and judicial processes" applicable in the case.

• An official at the U.S. Attorney's Office had replied in the affirmative last week when asked if they would seek Bishnoi's extradition.

• U.S. and Canadian officials did not reiterate any allegations that the Indian government was involved in or had prior knowledge of Nijjar's killing.

• Ottawa and New Delhi have been working to restore ties in recent months and are aiming to conclude a free trade pact by the end of this year. REUTERS